‘Not aware’: Community pushes for Bradley Smith memorial
A Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs spokeswoman declined to address whether they would fund a memorial for Cairns orphan who was killed in a stolen car.
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A YOUNG Cairns orphan who paid the ultimate price after falling through the cracks of the Queensland child protection system could have a permanent memorial erected in his honour.
On February 14 this year Bradley Smith was a passenger in a stolen car when the Toyota Yaris lost control at high speed and crashed into a tree on Pease St, Manoora.
He was a resident of an Edge Hill residential care home operated by ITEC Group at the time of his death.
Tiarnie Mueller rescued Bradley from a life on the street and acted as an informal carer for about three months in 2021.
She said there had been a push for a permanent memorial to be erected somewhere in the Manoora neighbourhood Bradley called home.
“My house is just down the road from the accident and his care house was just around the corner,” she said.
“(Youth workers) are trying to push for (the Department of) Child Safety to have that memorial in place and paid for by them.
“It’s the least they can do for him and for everyone that was part of Bradley’s life.”
Bradley’s mother died and having a father that suffered from addiction issues – and died more recently – meant the boy was placed into the care of the state from the age of eight.
Friends locked out of a memorial service held for Bradley in February and a makeshift roadside tribute have contributed to a plea for a proper memorial for the orphan.
Bradley’s memory has come to embody a sadness that comes from being totally alone in the world alongside community frustration that more was not done to give the boy a chance at a decent life.
“There are people that still need closure,” Ms Mueller said.
“There’s cracks in the system and the kids are falling through the cracks.
“There needs to be intervention for these kids, especially for Bradley who was an orphan and had no one.”
Asked directly if the state would help fund a memorial if requested by the Cairns community a Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs spokeswoman declined to address the query. The spokeswoman said the department is “is not aware of any request to fund a memorial for Bradley.”
“The death of a child is always a tragedy and our thoughts remain with the family, friends and community members who knew Bradley,” she said.
ITEC Group managing director Lynn Walker did not respond to invitation for comment.
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